On behalf of the vitreoretinal surgery faculty at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, thank you for taking the time to explore our fellowship training program in Vitreoretinal Surgery.
BPEI retina has been a leader in the field for nearly sixty years. We are extremely proud of our two-year comprehensive training program in the diagnosis and management of surgical diseases involving the retina and vitreous. Our fellowship features:
- Large faculty providing diverse education: 12 faculty members across retina disciplines with training from a multitude of different fellowships.
- Exposure to all essential procedures for the modern retinal specialist including vitrectomies, membrane peeling, primary scleral buckles, repair of complex rhegmatogenous and tractional retinal detachments, and secondary intraocular lens cases (anterior, scleral-fixated, and scleral-sutured approaches).
- Exposure to all subspecialties including ocular oncology (including plaques), pediatrics (including ROP rounds and gene therapy), and uveitis.
- Diverse and rich breadth and depth of pathology drawing from South Florida, Latin America, the Caribbean, and our trans-Atlantic neighbors.
- Plentiful opportunities for clinical research projects ranging from case reports and book chapters, to chart reviews, to opportunities to design prospective research. Our fellowship qualifies for Heed Fellowship eligibility ($10,000/year grant).
- A track record of excellent job placement in both academics and private practice for graduates with lifelong continued mentorship and career opportunities.
Meet Our Faculty
Department Head: Harry W. Flynn, Jr. M.D.
Fellowship Program Co-Directors: Audina Berrocal, M.D. and Thomas Albini, M.D.
Janet Davis, M.D.
William E. Smiddy M.D.
Zelia Correa, M.D.
Ninel Gregori, M.D.
Jorge Fortun, M.D.
Justin Townsend, M.D.
Luis Haddock, M.D.
Nicolas Yannuzzi, M.D.
Structure
Vitreoretinal surgical fellows gain the majority of their clinical and surgical experience at the Anne Bates Leach Eye Center and Miami Veterans Administration Hospital (Miami Medical Campus). There is minimal satellite travel with the main component being surgical opportunities at our Palm Beach Gardens surgical center featuring heads-up three-dimensional display systems.
The first year of the fellowship consists of three-month alternating blocks. Fellows spend time in the clinic and operating with Drs. Correa, Fortun, Gregori, Haddock, Sridhar, and Yannuzzi with exposure to medical and surgical retina, as well as ocular oncology. Fellows typically are in the operating room an average of 2 days per week.
The second year of the fellowship focuses on refining clinical and surgical skills, as well as further subspecialty exposure to pediatric retina and uveitis. Fellows pass through four six-week rotations twice each and are staffed by Drs. Albini, Berrocal, Davis, Fortun, Flynn, Haddock, Smiddy, Sridhar, Townsend, and Yannuzzi. Fellows average 2.5 days each week in the operating room.
Our fellows participate in nearly all surgical procedures and operate as primary surgeon in numbers that well exceed reported national averages. Vitrectomy systems used include the Alcon Constellation, the DORC Eva, and the Bausch and Lomb Stellaris. Fellows will learn to use both contact (Irrigating contact lens, flat contact lens, AVI) and non-contact (BIOM & Resight) wide-angle viewing systems.
Academics
Clinical research and publication are encouraged and supported as part of the fellowship experience. Each fellow is expected to prepare a project for presentation at the Bascom Palmer Annual Meeting each June and is encouraged (and funded) to present their research at a major national meeting.
Fellows benefit from an extraordinary didactic program, including weekly Grand Rounds to our weekly Retina Conference, which includes case presentations, journal clubs, and no shortage of lively discussion. We also host multidisciplinary imaging and surgical conferences and separate medical retina and uveitis journal clubs. Fellows also attend Medical Education Conferences sponsored by BPEI and geared toward our global ophthalmology community. Fellows are encouraged to attend major national and international meetings and receive travel funding for domestic meetings in which they present a paper or poster.
Call Responsibilities
Retina fellow on-duty (OD) call is generally taken from home 1 week at a time averaging q6 weeks. Fellows are in charge of the call schedule, allowing for flexibility. Call during weekdays is generally less busy and weekends can vary.
Fellows are responsible for examining and treating attending patients presenting to the BPEI emergency room, receive calls from answering service for attending patients, and may be consulted by other subspecialty fellows/attendings as needed. There is no trauma call.
Each fellow is also assigned 2 weeks of University of Miami Hospital (UMH) general ophthalmology call per year, as are all fellows at BPEI regardless of subspecialty. Each fellow is also assigned overnight shifts as attending for BPEI emergency room. These shifts are reimbursed separately from the fellow salary. They are also transferrable to other fellows regardless of subspecialty.
Application
Our two fellowship positions are filled through Ophthalmology Matching Program, and we utilize the Central Application Service. For more information, please visit SF Match.
Please note: You must have a Florida State Medical License before beginning your fellowship.
You must have passed all 3 parts of the USMLE for a Florida License and have spent 2 years training in the United States under direct physician supervision.
Deadline for receipt of application is September 1st.
Salary and benefits will be commensurate with the other fellowships offered through the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Contact
Yaimara Milian (Yami)
Manager, Fellowship Programs
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
900 N.W. 17th Street
Miami, FL 33136
Phone: 305-326-6312
Fax: 305-326-6580
Email: yxs696@med.miami.edu